Cabinetry structure



May 12, 1964 R. M. VIGNA 3,132,910

CABINETRY STRUCTURE Filed March 26, 1962 Ra! hMJfigna 27 I, INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofiice aiszsis Patented May 12, 1964 3,132,910CAEUQETRY STRUCTURE Ralph M. Vigna, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to EastmanKodak Company, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed hiar.2115, 19:32, Ser. No. 182,266

9 Ciahns. (131. 312-264) This invention relates to cabinetry and moreparticularly to a cabinetry structure utilizing load supporting framesand non-load-bearing panels.

The novel frame and panel construction of the present invention has beendevised to simplify the assembly of cabinetry structures and comprises apair of spaced rigid frames for supporting the internal and externalloads carried by the structure, and non-load-bearing panels which arereceived by the opposed frame members and substantially enclose thecabinetry structure. The cabinetry structure also comprises a novelmeans for interconnecting the opposed frames to form a rigid structureand to provide a support for the loads within the struc ture which areto be carried by the frames.

The primary object of the present invention is therefore to provide animproved cabinetry structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cabinetrystructure formed of spaced load-bearing frames and non-load-bearingpanels.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cabinetrystructure having spaced opposed frames which are interconnected to forma rigid structure by a member which also provides support for internalloads carried within the structure.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cabinetrystructure in which spaced opposed frames are formed of extruded channelmembers having slots for receiving non-load-bearing panels to enclosethe structure and other slots adapted to receive slidable blocks throughwhich the opposed frame members are interconnected in abutting relationto the panels to form a rigid cabinetry structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cabinetrystructure in which load supporting shelves can be mounted on the opposedframes of the structure at any desired position within the structure.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novelcabinetry structure which is formed of relatively inexpensive, readilyavailable materials and which can be quickly and easily assembled.

Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdescription with reference to the drawings in which like charactersdenote like parts and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View showing the cabinetry structure of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded persepctive view showing a slidable block andthumb screw such as utilized for assembling the cabinetry structure ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the cabinetry structure of the present inventioncomprises two spaced frames designated by the numerals 11 and 13,respectively. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention,these frames are formed with extruded metal channels which are identicalin every respect and form the facing edges of the cabinetry structure.Thus the surface 15 on frame 11 forms the front facing edge of thecabinetry structure and the surface 17 forms the side, bottom, and topfacing edges of the cabinetry structure. The corresponding surfaces onthe rear frame 13 form corresponding facing edges at the rear of thecabinetry structure. Frame 11 has two panel receiving slots 19 and 21and an undercut slot which is designated by the numeral 23. Each ofthese slots extend all the way around the frame. Rear frame 13 hascorresponding identical slots. The preferred method of assembling theframes for use in a given cabinetry structure is to cut the extrudedchannels to the desired lengths and to weld these lengths together onthe inside corners thereof as indicated, for example, at 25. Thus theexterior appearance of the frames is not afiected by the welds. Beforemaking these Welds it is necessary to insert the predetermined requirednumber of T-shaped blocks 27 into the channel 23, so that they will beavail able during assembly of the cabinet structure for tying the framestogether, as hereinafter described. If the frame is to extend across thebottom of the structure, as it is shown in FIG. 1, then rear panel 29must be located in panel slot Si in frame 13 prior to welding the bottomportion of the frame in place. If, on the other hand, the frame is notto extend across the bottom of the structure, the positioning of blocks27 in the slot 23 and of panel 29 in slot 30 need not be done untilafter completion of the corner welds.

The other exposed surfaces of the cabinetry structure can be formed froma single panel 31 bent to the desired shape so as to fit in panel slots19 and 32 of frames 11 and 13, respectively. Since the panels 29 and 31do not carry structural or internal loads in the disclosed cabinetrystructure, they can be of relatively thin gauge metal. The edges of thepanel 31 are received in the slots 19 and 32 and extend all the wayaround the cabinetry structure thereby forming the sides, top and bottomwalls of the structure. As shown in FIG. 1, panel 31 does not quiteclose the bottom of the cabinetry structure, but if this feature isnecessary or desirable, the panel could be made slightly longer and theedges overlapped or welded together. If the frames 11 and 13 did notextend across the bottom of the structure, panel 31 would usually beshaped to form the top and side walls only of the structure, leaving thebottom completely open.

Metal angles such as that designated by the numeral 35 are used to tietogether the opposed frame members 11 and 13. The ends 37 and 39 of theangles are drilled so that thumb screws 41 pass freeiy therethrough forthreading into the blocks 2'7. It will be seen that upon tightening thethumb screws that the frames 11 and 13 and panel 31 will be drawntightly together to form a rigid unit. Besides reinforcing and tyingtogether the cabinetry structure, the angles 35 are adapted to support ashelf such as indicated by the numeral 4-5. As shown in FIG. 2, shelf 45has an end 47, which is formed over at right angles to the rest of theshelf so as to extend down in back of angle 35 and thus hold the shelfin position within the cabinetry structure. If required, thelongitudinal edges of the shelf can be bent over at right angles to therest of the shelf to further strengthen the shelf throughout its length.

Instead of utilizing the metal angles 35 to support shelves or otherload-bearing members within the cabinetry structure, it is sometimesmore desirable to attach a support member (or shelf) such as indicatedby the numeral 49 directly to the frames 11 and 13. This is accomplishedby means of the thumb screws 41 which pass through holes formed in theside edges of the support 49 and are threaded into the blocks 27. Thislatter feature is illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

Several important advantages resulting from the cabinetry structure ofthe present invention'should now be readily apparent to those skiled inthe art. First, it will be realized that the blocks 27 being slidable inthe undercut grooves 23 allow the metal angles 35 or support members 49,as the case may be, to be positioned at any convenient location Withinthe cabinetry structure. Thus the cabinetry structure can accommodatedifferent sized loads. in addition, of course, vertical partitions orseparators, not shown, can also be attached to the frames 11 and 13 byutilizing additional blocks 27 and thumb screws 41. If desired, suchvertical partitions can be fixed to one of the horizontal shelves, or ifnone, to the portion of the frames which extend across the bottom of thestructure. While for economys salce the disclosed cabinetry structure ofthe present invention utilizes identical frames 11 and 13, it is obviousthat frames having diff-rent profiles could be utilized for the frontand rear of the structure without departing from the novel con cept ofthe present invention. Thus, for example, it might be desired to havethe rear frame 13 formed with a plain flat surface on its rear facingedge. This would permit the cabinetry structure to be placed flushagainst a partition or wall and might eliminate the need for rear panel29. Also, of course, the exterior shape of the front frame 11 and rearframe 13 can be varied as desired, in order to fit in with the designcharacteristics of the locale in which the cabinetry structure is to beplaced. It will be seen that the frame 11, as shown in the drawing, issufficiently large to receive and support either swinging or slidingdoors for closing the front of the structure. Such doors have not beenshown in the drawings, but it is believed that their installations couldbe easily accomplished by one skilled in the art, and that such showingis not necessary for the present invention to be completely understood.

Still other modifications of the cabinetry structure of the presentinvention might well be utilized. For example, the same novel featuresof the invention could be incorporated in other types of furniture, suchas, for example, in desks, dressers, chests, or the like. Whether thecabinetry structure resulted in a vertical cabinet having horizontalshelves such as illustrated in FIG. 1 or a horizontal chest-typeenclosure with or without shelves or partitions would be immaterial tothe practice of the present invention. Castors or glides can be utilizedon the bottom of the cabinetry structure to facilitate moving thestructure from place to place. Such castors or glides would preferablybe mounted on the load-bearing frames.

It will now be apparent that the cabinetry structure of the presentinvention is an improved unit which is easily assembled utilizing twoopposed structural frames, a panel disposed between the frames and aconvenient means for drawing the frames and panels together to form arigid structural unit.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference topreferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variationsand modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of theinvention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appendedclaims.

Having now particularly described my invention, what I desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States and What I claim is:

1. A cabinetry structure comprising:

(A) panel means forming the top and side walls of the structure,

(B) first and second frame members forming the front and rear facingedges, respectively, along the top and sides of such structure, eachframe member having:-

(1) a panel retaining slot formed in the rear of the member opposite thefacing edge thereof for receiving said panel means, and

(2) an undercut slot which is open on the same side of the member as thepanel retaining slot and which parallels said panel retaining slot, and

(C) means retained 'by the undercut slot in each of said members fordrawing the members together so that the panel means is held in thepanel retaining slot in abutting relation to said members.

2. A cabinetry structure in accordance with claim 1 and wherein saiddrawing means comprises:

(1) opposed blocks which are retained in the undercut slots,respectively, of said members by the narrower portions of such slots,and

(2) means including a support member for interconnecting said opposedblocks.

3. A cabinetry structure in accordance with claim 2 and wherein saidsupport member is a shelf.

4. A cabinetry structure in accordance with claim 2 and wherein:

(l) a plurality of said blocks are disposed in opposed relation in theundercut slots of the opposed frame members, respectively, for slidingmovement in said undercut slots, and

' (2) each pair of opposed blocks is interconnected by means including arigid support member, whereby the location of the support members can bechanged within the structure.

5. A cabinetry structure in accordance with claim 2 and wherein saidpanel means comprises a single panel which substantially encloses thetop, sides, and bottom of the structure.

6. A cabinetry structure in accordance with claim 5 and wherein:

(1) said second frame member has a second panel slot which is disposedsubstantially at right angles to the first-mentioned panel slot therein,for receiving rear panel means, and p (2) such structure furthercomprises rear panel means engaged such'second panel slot to form therear wall of the structure.

7. A cabinetry structure in accordance with claim 6 and wherein:

(l) a plurality of said blocks are disposed in opposed relation in theundercut slots of the opposed frame members, respectively, for slidingmovement in the undercut slots, and

(2) each pair of opposed blocks is interconnected by means including arigid support member, whereby the location of the support members can bechanged within the structure.

8. A cabinetry structure comprising: I

(A) panel means forming an exterior wall of the structure,

(B) two opposed frame members forming the front and rear facing edges ofsaid structure, each frame member having a panel retaining slot forreceiving said panel means and an undercut slot, both of said slotsbeing formed in the rear of such frame member opposite the facing edgethereof, and

(C) means retained by the undercut slots in said frame relation to saidpanel means in said panel retaining slots. 9. A cabinetry structure inaccordance with claim 8 and wherein said holding means comprises:

(1) at least two members which are slidably retained References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 917,870 Jeiferis Apr. 13,1909 2,715,794 Atkinson Aug. 23, 1955 2,987,362 Bernath June 6, 19613,059.98?) Strom Oct. 23, 1962 members for holding the frame membersinabutting

8. A CABINERTRY STRUCTURE COMPRISING: (A) PANEL MEANS FORMING ANEXTERIOR WALL OF THE STRUCTURE, (B) TWO OPPOSED FRAME MEMBERS FORMINGTHE FRONT AND REAR FACING EDGES OF SAID STRUCTURE, EACH FRAME MEMBERHAVING A PANEL RETAINING SLOT FOR RECEIVING SAID PANEL MEANS AND ANUNDERCUT SLOT, BOTH OF SAID SLOTS BEING FORMED IN THE REAR OF SUCH FRAMEMEMBER OPPOSITE THE FACING EDGE THEREOF, AND (C) MEANS RETAINED BY THEUNDERCUT SLOTS IN SAID FRAME MEMBERS FOR HOLDING THE FRAME MEMBERS INABUTTING RELATION TO SAID PANEL MEANS IN SAID PANEL RETAINING SLOTS.